Featured Gallery: Leila Taghinia-Milani Heller Gallery
July 29, 2009 Back to News
Leila Taghinia-Milani Heller Gallery
39 East 78th Street, Suite 301, New York, NY
Specializing in Middle Eastern and Iranian Art
Why did you decide to open a gallery?
I studied art history at Brown University, and then went on to participate in Sotheby’s works of art program in London, and graduated with a Masters in art history and museum management from George Washington University. After working at the Hirshhorn and Guggenheim Museums in the late ‘70s, I worked as the curator of an investment bank for two years. As I was friends with a number of emerging artists at the time, and traveled in the social circles of artists Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, I decided to open my first gallery on Madison Avenue in 1982. I showed a number of emerging international artists, giving one man shows to artists Dan Witz, Tom Woodruff, YZ Kami, Benjamin Lira, and Christopher Makos. I also had group shows curated by important art world figures, including a show “Cali-Graffiti”, curated by Jeffrey Deitch, which paired calligraphists, such as Charles Hossein Zenderoudi, with luminary artists Twombly, Tobey, Torres-Garcia, Michaux, and Masson. I have since continued to exhibit both emerging and established international contemporary artists, including Middle Eastern and Iranian art.
Photo Credit: Lana Kurtz photography
What have you found to be the most difficult aspect of running a gallery in New York City?
The most difficult aspect has definitely been the high cost of maintaining a gallery due to the high rents on Madison Avenue, and also in Chelsea and Soho. It has been difficult to stay committed to showing emerging young artists whose prices are not that high, when the business demands such high overhead.
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39 East 78th Street, Suite 301, New York, NY
Specializing in Middle Eastern and Iranian Art
Why did you decide to open a gallery?
I studied art history at Brown University, and then went on to participate in Sotheby’s works of art program in London, and graduated with a Masters in art history and museum management from George Washington University. After working at the Hirshhorn and Guggenheim Museums in the late ‘70s, I worked as the curator of an investment bank for two years. As I was friends with a number of emerging artists at the time, and traveled in the social circles of artists Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, I decided to open my first gallery on Madison Avenue in 1982. I showed a number of emerging international artists, giving one man shows to artists Dan Witz, Tom Woodruff, YZ Kami, Benjamin Lira, and Christopher Makos. I also had group shows curated by important art world figures, including a show “Cali-Graffiti”, curated by Jeffrey Deitch, which paired calligraphists, such as Charles Hossein Zenderoudi, with luminary artists Twombly, Tobey, Torres-Garcia, Michaux, and Masson. I have since continued to exhibit both emerging and established international contemporary artists, including Middle Eastern and Iranian art.
Photo Credit: Lana Kurtz photography
What have you found to be the most difficult aspect of running a gallery in New York City?
The most difficult aspect has definitely been the high cost of maintaining a gallery due to the high rents on Madison Avenue, and also in Chelsea and Soho. It has been difficult to stay committed to showing emerging young artists whose prices are not that high, when the business demands such high overhead.
Click Here to Read More
